Support for apparatus in general and, in particular, for optical or photographic apparatus and the like

ABSTRACT

A support for apparatus in general and, in particular, for optical or photographic apparatus and the like. The support comprises a pillar arranged to receive the apparatus at a first end and to be housed with its stem in a seat extending through a spider of a tripod. The support also comprises, at the first end, an orientable platform for the levelling of the apparatus independently of the positioning of the tripod, and the pillar is structurally independent of the spider and can be inserted removably in the seat.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject of the present invention is a support for apparatus ingeneral and, in particular, for optical or photographic apparatus andthe like.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Supports including the above-mentioned characteristics are used widelyin the photographic and cinematographic fields, generally in associationwith tripods or stands for the orientable support of cameras. In thisfield, a need arises to position the stand or tripod with a pillarsupport mounted thereon and to be able to orient the apparatus mountedon the support about its own axis. This need arises typically to achievepanoramic shots.

In this situation, it is necessary to position the tripod with care sothat the rotation of the pillar takes place while the desired levelstate of the camera is maintained.

Cinematographic tripods and stands are also known, in which, to avoidthe need for a level position, supports are used which have orientableplatforms on which the head that supports the optical or photographicapparatus is mounted in turn. However, these supports require rackdrives which interfere with the freedom of positioning of the pillar.Moreover, they are wholly unsuitable for applications in which thepillar can be moved to two or more positions on the tripod.

Supports for apparatus having conventional features are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,128,982 and in U.S. Pat. No. 2,168,988.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main aim of the invention is to provide a support which can bemounted on tripods of conventional design and which at the same timeaffords all of the advantages typical of tripods with orientableplatforms.

Within the scope of this aim, an important object of the invention is toprovide a support which has safety devices for protecting the integrityof the apparatus that can be mounted on it.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easily adjustablesupport.

One of the chief objects of the invention is to provide a support whichis designed structurally and functionally to overcome all of thedisadvantages discussed with reference to the prior art mentioned.

This aim, and these and further objects, are achieved by a supportformed in accordance with the present invention as described andillustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will becomeclearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof,described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appendeddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tripod including a support accordingto the invention, with parts separated;

FIG. 2 is a view of the support of FIG. 1 in longitudinal section;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the support of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a section through the support, taken along the line IV-IV ofFIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, a tripod for photographic and/or cinematographic uses,generally indicated 1, has legs 2 all of which converge in a spider 3through which two seats, both indicated 4, extend; the stem 11 of apillar 12, forming part of a support, formed in accordance with theinvention and generally indicated 10, is housed alternatively in one orthe other of the seats 4.

The stem 11 has a three-lobed, tubular configuration with anapproximately triangular, equilateral shape with rounded angles. One ofthe angles has a wall thickening 13 (see FIG. 4) which enables the stem11 to be machined if necessary to produce an optional rack within thethickness of the thickening 13.

The support 10 comprises, at a first end of the stem 11, an orientableplatform 14 including a first ball and socket joint with a socket 15 anda ball 16 fixed firmly to the pillar 12 and to a fixing plate 17 of theplatform 14, respectively. The socket 15 is fixed to the pillar 12 by ashank 18 of the socket 15, which is housed and clamped in the stem 11.The ball 16 is fixed to the fixing plate 17 by screws 19. The plate 17also carries fixing mechanisms 20, 21 for a head T which is orientableabout two or more axes, and a level mechanism 22. The fixing mechanism20 comprises a screw for clamping the head against the plate 17. Thefixing mechanism 21 comprises a plurality of grub screws convergingtowards the axis of the screw and arranged to preload the fixingmechanism 20 between the fixing plate 17 and the head T of the apparatusA fixed thereto. Accidental slackening of the fixing mechanism 20 isthus prevented.

The grub screws of the fixing mechanism 21 are inclined to the axis ofthe fixing mechanism 20 so as to be accessible even though they areclose to the ball 16 and the overall size of the fixing plate 17 issmall.

The ball 16 is clamped in the socket 15 in order to lock the first balland socket joint through a tie rod 23 extending axially through thepillar 12 and restrained on the ball 16 by a second ball and socketjoint 24 including a ball 25 fixed to the end of the tie rod 23 and aspherical seat 26 formed in the ball 16 of the first joint.

At its end remote from the ball 25, the tie rod 23 has a threaded shank27 which is engaged by screwing in a female thread 28 formed in a knob29. The rotation of the knob 29 in the two senses causes the tie rod 23to tighten or slacken, respectively. A plug 30 is inserted in the end ofthe stem 11 corresponding to the knob 29 and a self-locking nut 31 isscrewed onto the threaded shank 27 to abut the plug 30, with theinterposition of a Belleville washer 33. A friction load is thusprovided in the first and second ball and socket joints, independentlyof the slackening or removal of the knob 29 from the shank 27, that is,when the tie rod 23 is slackened, so as to secure the photographicapparatus A mounted on the orientable platform against abruptoscillations and impacts resulting from such slackening.

A small plate 34 interposed between the knob 29 and the pillar 12, isfixed firmly to the knob 29 and projects radially therefrom to interferewith the spider 3, to prevent the pillar 12 accidentally slipping out ofthe seat 4.

The sliding of the pillar 12 in the seat 4 can be stopped in anadjustable position by a brake 35, for example, of the type with ascrew-operated block mounted on the spider 3 and operable by a handwheel, or by the devices provided for in the Applicant's Italian patentapplication No. PD98A000096, and also as shown in U.S. Pat. No.6,164,843.

In order to clamp the orientable head T, for example, a panoramic head,on the support 10, or to clamp an optical, photographic, orcinematographic apparatus A such as a video camera directly on thesupport 10, the apparatus A is positioned on the fixing plate 17 and isfixed thereon as indicated, by the mechanisms 20, 21. The orientableplatform is then levelled by slackening the knob 29, and with it the tierod 23, as much as necessary in order to pivot the socket and ball 15,16 of the first ball and socket joint relative to one another. Shouldthe tie rod 23 be slackened too much, the maintenance of a frictionpreloading by the nut 31 and by the Belleville washer 33 prevents suddenpivoting of the orientable platform and consequent damage to theapparatus A supported thereon. Upon completion of the desired levelling,which can be achieved by virtue of the level mechanism 22, the knob 29is tightened in order to lock the first ball and socket joint in theposition reached.

It is pointed out that, by virtue of the shape of the stem 11 and of theseat 4, which provide for a non-rotatable, guided coupling of the pillar12 in the spider 3, the levelling of the orientable platform ismaintained, even if the height position of the support 10 relative tothe tripod 1 is varied.

The desired height adjustment is thus performed with the knowledge thatthe levelling achieved will be maintained for any subsequent rotation ofthe apparatus A by its support head T.

In order to remove the support 10 from the tripod 1, it suffices toslacken the knob 29 completely until it is removed from the threadedshank 27 of the tie rod 23, together with the small plate 34, and thento release the block brake 35 disposed in the spider 3.

The invention thus achieves the aim proposed and affords many advantagesover conventional supports. By producing the support in a form such thatit is removable from the tripod, the tripod can be used in differentcombinations and in different positions.

Moreover, the prevention of relative rotation between the pillar and thespider achieves the advantage mentioned above, that the levelling of theplatform is maintained irrespective of the movement of the pillarrelative to the spider.

The provision of a friction load on the first ball and socket jointconstitutes a precautionary measure for protecting the support andwhatever is mounted on it.

The provision of thickenings in the stem permits optional machiningthereof for a rack drive.

1. A support for apparatus including a tripod having a spider with aseat extending through the spider, the support comprising: a pillarhaving a stem and being arranged to receive the apparatus at a first endand to be housed with its stem in the seat extending through the spiderof the tripod, the pillar being structurally independent of the spiderand capable of being inserted removably in the seat and being slidabletherein; and an orientable platform located at the first end of thepillar for the levelling of the apparatus independently of thepositioning of the tripod, the orientable platform having a first balland socket joint including a ball fixed firmly to a fixing plate of theplatform and a socket fixed firmly to the stem of the pillar, and a tierod acting between the socket and the ball in order, when tensioned, toprevent relative rotation thereof, the tie rod extending through thestem of the pillar and being operated by a knob associated with a secondend of the pillar remote from the first end.
 2. A support for apparatusincluding a tripod having a spider with a seat extending through thespider, the support comprising: a pillar having a stem and beingarranged to receive the apparatus at a first end and to be housed withits stem in the seat extending through the spider of the tripod, thepillar being structurally independent of the spider and capable of beinginserted removably in the seat and being slidable therein; and anorientable platform located at the first end of the pillar for thelevelling of the apparatus independently of the positioning of thetripod, the orientable platform having a first ball and socket jointincluding a ball fixed firmly to the system of the pillar and a socketfixed firmly to a fixing plate of the platform, and a tie rod actingbetween the socket and the ball in order, when tensioned, to preventrelative rotation thereof, the tie rod extending through the stem of thepillar and being operated by a knob associated with a second end of thepillar, remote from the first end.
 3. The support according to claim 1or claim wherein a fixing mechanism for a head for the orientablesupport of the apparatus is associated with the plate.
 4. The supportaccording to claim 3 in which the fixing mechanism comprises at leastone screw coupling which can clamp the head or apparatus against thefixing plate and at least one grub screw which can preload the fixingmechanism between the plate and the head or apparatus.
 5. The supportaccording to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the knob is screwed onto thetie rod by operative actuation of the knob.
 6. The support according toclaim 5 in which the knob is associated removably with the tie rod inorder to be removed for the purpose of the removal of the pillar fromthe seat in the spider and its insertion therein.
 7. The supportaccording to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a small plate,removable with the knob, interposed between the knob and the pillar andprojecting radially from the pillar in order to prevent the pillar fromaccidentally slipping out of the seat.
 8. The support according to claim7 in which the small plate is fixed firmly to the female thread of theknob.
 9. The support according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprisingpreloading means provided on the tie rod for ensuring a friction load inthe first ball and socket joint when the tie rod is slackened.
 10. Thesupport according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which locking means isprovided between the spider and the pillar for locking the pillar in theseat, in an adjustable position along the stem.
 11. The supportaccording to claim 10 in which the locking means comprises a brakemounted in the spider.
 12. The support according to claim 10 in whichthe shape of the stem of the pillar and of the seat in the spider issuch as to provide a non-rotatable guided coupling of the pillar in thespider.
 13. A support for apparatus, the support comprising: a tripodhaving a spider with a seat extending through the spider; a pillarhaving a stem and being arranged to receive the apparatus at a first endand to be housed with its stem in the seat extending through the spiderof the tripod, the pillar being structurally independent of the spiderand capable of being inserted removably in the seat and being slidabletherein; an orientable platform located at the first end of the pillarfor the levelling of the apparatus independently of the positioning ofthe tripod, the orientable platform having a first ball and socket jointincluding a ball and a socket fixed firmly to a fixing plate of theplatform and to the stem of the pillar, respectively, or vice versa, anda tie rod acting between the socket and the ball in order, whentensioned, to prevent relative rotation thereof, the tie rod extendingthrough the stem of the pillar and being operated by a knob associatedwith a second end of the pillar remote from the first end; a levelmechanism associated with the plate; a fixing mechanism for a head forthe orientable support of the apparatus associated with the plate; asmall plate, removable with the knob, interposed between the knob andthe pillar and projecting radially from the pillar in order to preventthe pillar from accidentally slipping out of the seat; and preloadingmeans provided on the tie rod for ensuring a friction load in the firstball and socket joint when the tie rod is slackened.
 14. The supportaccording to claim 13 in which the fixing mechanism comprises at leastone screw coupling which can clamp the head or apparatus against thefixing plate and at least one grub screw which can preload the fixingmechanism between the plate and the head or apparatus.
 15. The supportaccording to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the knob is screwed onto thetie rod by operative actuation of the knob.
 16. The support according toclaim 15 in which the knob is associated removably with the tie rod inorder to be removed for the purpose of the removal of the pillar fromthe seat in the spider and its insertion therein.
 17. The supportaccording to claim 16 in which the small plate is fixed firmly to thefemale thread of the knob.
 18. The support according to claim 13 furthercomprising locking means provided between the spider and the pillar forlocking the pillar in the seat, in an adjustable position along thestem.
 19. The support according to claim 18 in which the locking meanscomprises a brake mounted in the spider.
 20. The support according toclaim 18 in which the shape of the stem of the pillar and of the seat inthe spider is such as to provide a non-rotatable guided coupling of thepillar in the spider.
 21. The support according to claim 1 or claim 2further compromising a level mechanism associated with the plate.